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Oil waste is both a problem and a resource. All depends on the strategy: we can solve the issue and exploit the resource. By doing so, the oil & gas sector will be a lot cleaner and less impacting to the environment. Not to mention the opportunity for energy suppliers to cut emissions and waste – processing costs. A great competitive advantage.

Oil waste as a problem

This solution is effective and many experts already know benefits it may generate since a long time. We should wonder why such a great practice still is not widespread. Unfortunately, not all good practices get the attention they deserve.

One of the most important focus of our action here @ Remedial Energy is to make oil waste composting better known and appreciated. First of all, because it allows to remove almost completely a dangerous category of chemicals from the environment.

Such chemicals are hydrocarbons (PAHs). They are very many, some of them carcinogens. This means that if we apply composting to oil waste, we help the environment as well as the public health. For workers, people living in surrounding areas and even for future generations.

Several studies showed more than interesting evidences. We collected the most relevant into the dedicated live training you can discover by clicking here. This training presents how to compost oil waste in the right way. The final aim is to remove almost 100% of PAHs from industrial sites.

This great natural solution is applicable to oilfields and refineries. However, do not forget that such a solution is also great for no longer operational sites (decommissioning phase).

Under this very particular circumstance, it may be possible to recover energy even after the cease of operations. That’s why the proposed training is so effective for the whole oil & gas sector.

Oil waste as a resource

The real asset of this method is that composting generates some energy during the process. In this way we have the best demonstration of what “Remedial Energy” really does mean.

To be more precise, the success of this method depends on several factors. Temperature is on top of the list. In fact, warmer climates can hinder the process. In all these cases, it’s important to adapt the solution. This means a change in some additives generally used to get the best from this process (you can find everything in our live training).

With temperature, the starting level of involved hydrocarbons plays an important role. However, oil waste composting can be surprisingly effective even when contamination levels are higher than expected.

Composting is an aerobic process. So, we can obtain some heat (thermal energy), by arranging oil waste in piles and turning them to ensure the proper aeration over time.

There is also the opportunity to generate some biogas. This process envisages to treat oil waste without oxygen (anaerobic fermentation). This method hides some environmental threats (release of harmful chemicals, such as amines). That’s why it must be controlled and monitored with the highest attention.

Depending on the need (and the current situation), we can take the decision of working with or without oxygen. What matters most is the final destination of this newly available energy.

Oil waste for development and new jobs

One more time, energy and environment join their benefits for a better world. Please note the importance of this framework. The natural remediation of oil waste through composting generates energy. This new energy can help the community (or the very same industrial facility) to do something more.

The final aim of this framework is not a secret. We have the occasion to setup a new standard for the local development. Local companies and related activities benefit a lot from the availability of more energy, with less contamination.

With the proper training, if you live close to an oil & gas facility (or oilfield, even a no longer operational site), oil waste becomes a resource. But it’s a resource only for those who start transforming it into new energy.

Oil waste and similar products are pollutants. If we work on them, possibly with natural resources, we can transform them into something harmless. This is great for the environment, an asset for public health.

By doing so, we also recover some energy. Maybe not too much, of course it depends on the case (amounts may vary a lot).

At the end of the day, oil waste composting belongs to the series of wonderful environmental practices that really make the world a better place to live.

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Remedial Energy is the framework for energy generation through the natural processing of polluted materials. Waste, industrial emissions and contaminated sites are our main target. This makes the environment cleaner, healthier and companies create a more sustainable development.